title: Arterial pressure fractality is highly dependent on wave reflection.
abstract: Wave reflection is an important factor that influences pressure wave morphology and becomes more significant with aging, when cardiovascular risk increases. A pressure wave, measured at any location in the arterial tree, can be decomposed into its forward and backward components and depends on the corresponding amplitude and shifting time delays. Fractal dimension (FD) quantifies the time series complexity defined by its geometrical representation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the arterial pressure and diameter time series in order to assess the relationship between wave reflection and arterial pressure fractal dimension (FD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Simultaneous aortic pressure and diameter were measured in 14 conscious dogs. A pair of ultrasonic crystals, a pressure microtransducer and a pneumatic cuff occluder were positioned in the upper third of the descending aorta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total reflection induced by the occlusion maneuver decreased FD concomitant to the aortic stiffening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arterial pressure fractality is highly dependent on wave reflection.
authors.forename: Ricardo L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Armentano
authors.forename: Leandro J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cymberknop
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Legnani
authors.forename: Franco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Pessana
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Craiem
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Juan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Barra
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D002138:Calibration; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D017709:Fractals; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009991:Oscillometry; D011312:Pressure; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors; D014159:Transducers; D059289:Vascular Stiffness